Well done on getting through today Holsten, - sounds as if it was a bit tough 
Regarding lymph nodes, are they clearing them all out, or sampling some to test? If you are losing them all I would guess you might have to take certain precautions because you will be vulnerable to infections without them - but if that is the case they will tell you all about it at the hospital (I'm basing this on losing armpit nodes) hopefully the incision wont be too big, but you'll feel sore for a couple of weeks afterwards I'd guess.
Not sure whether you'll have a drain in - have they said? I would have thought quite likely with lymph nodes (Don't know whether you have had surgery before, - a drain is a tube which takes off excess fluid from the wound - apologies if I'm stating the obvious! 
)
An MP3 player is nice in hospital - especially if you feel too tired to read, - a bit of cash for the TV /phone/ newspapers, some baby wipes so you can freshen your face, some juice/squash if you want a change from water, and maybe some sweets to suck - it can gets quite hot and dry your mouth.
I'm sure you've thought of all these things, but just trying to remember the things which made me a bit more comfortable.
Good luck for your DD on thurs. jane
amber - high factor sunscreen, and a big old sunhat (I've got into the habit of wearing one whenever I go out in the summer) I know you have to be careful, but actually vitamin D is also supposed to be good for people who've had/have cancer, so you don't want to avoid going out in the sun all together IMO.
Camel - its full of tough decisions this business isn't it? If it were me, and especially if they can do it under local, I'd want the biopsy - it's a pity they couldn't have done them all at the same time, to save you going through the waiting game again
But it depends really on what they advise, and what you feel comfortable with. And of course the fact that you were clear on the other nodes is very much in your favour I would think.